A preservice teacher trying to get grips with ICT…

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As I am completing assessment three I am amazed at how far my knowledge has come. My resource bank is so much bigger now since to this course. I have learnt how to apply certain resources into the classroom and specifically in HPE. As I finish assessment three I already have a range of ideas on how to develop ICT into the physical education side as well. Incorporating a range of ICT could enhance students learning of fundamental movement skills.

It is funny talking to my parents about this course as they have the opinion that most older generations do about technology, and how they believe students are using it to much. I do not think that is a battle I will ever win. I try to explain that students learning is enhanced by technology. It is important to keep up to date with our students learning and to make sure they are engaged; technology does this.

As I complete my assessment two and start my assessment 3 I find time to reflect on how ICT is really incorporated into the HPE classroom. The ideas that have been set out to achieve in my unit plan submitted may be a little hopeful and optimistic. In reality finding the time to do the range of the tasks outlined could be challenging. My unit was based on a students researching and interpreting puberty based health concerns and creating an ad to help people within there community with issues that they may be facing. I feel that this would be a very achievable task however sometimes within a HPE setting there is not enough time. When I look at all the aspects that are included within the unit it would take a great deal of time and organisation to successfully achieve. With writing, editing and uploading there is a large amount of work to get done. I can understand why some/most HPE educators do not use ICT within their lessons. It would be especially hard if there was no support teachers available to help assist students. It is not certain what the solution to this would be. It would mean teachers need to use time accordingly and understanding the ICT thoroughly before planning the unit. It would also require teachers to allow students the chance and responsibility of doing tasks (uploading and editing) themselves.

I feel that through this course I am beginning to understand that ICTs need to be used in a positive way. Even though I may not be confident in using tools myself it is important to allow the students access to them and the opportunity to use them in class. Even when the ICT become challenging and decides not to work, it is important to keep trying and keep incorporating. It’s important to remember that technology and our students are the way of the future.

Working through the course we were asked to complete the “Schema” which I found pretty fascinating and how we always are searching for patterns in what we observe. We were asked to fill in the blanks in this paragraph:

“The questions that p________ face as they raise ch________ from in_________ to adult are not easy to an _________. Both f______ and m________ can become concerned when health problems such as co_________ arise anytime after the e____ stage to later life. Experts recommend that young ch____ should have plenty of s________ and nutritious food for healthy growth. B___ and g____ should not share the same b______ or even be in the same r______. They may be afraid of the d_____.”

I was a little lost when trying to work this out but knew it had to be something about children so here was my response:
The questions that people face as they raise children from infant to adult are not easy to answer. Both Female and Male can become concerned when health problems such as coughing arise anytime after the early stage to later life. Experts recommend that young children should have plenty of solid and nutritious food for healthy growth. Boys and Girls should not share the sameBed or even be in the same range. They may be afraid of the Dark.

The original was:

The questions that poultrymen face as they raise chickens from incubators to adult are not easy to answer. Both farmers and merchants can become concerned when health problems such as coccidiosis arise anytime after the egg stage to later life.Experts recommend that young chicks should have plenty of sunshine and nutritious food for healthy growth. Bantees and geese should not share the same barnyard or even be in the same roost.They may be afraid of the dark”.

Clearly my thought pattern was incorrect and I thought it had to be something about children and have a connection to teaching. Through this we can see that our schemas are formed by our experience and someone with different experience to mine may come up with something different.

Well, what a few weeks it has been. Studying full time and working part time, while being it with a cyclone and floods has just been exhausting. I was thinking I would be quite knowledgeable about the basics of ICT however I was wrong. I find myself using ICT to everyday duties and use large amounts. My first thought is that ICT are tools in which we use to communicate. Social media is the easiest way for people in our generation to communicate with others and generate ideas and thoughts. This can sometimes be a negative aspect. Everyday I look at my phone, laptops and television. However broader to that is the software, radio and satellite. As a preservice teacher I am very apprehensive to use ICT within the classroom due to lack of experience and like Mikaela feel that I do not trust it in a sense. As said in my earlier post I am eager to learn more about ICT and while searching I found this to help me out with understanding.

I understand that the only way we can learn new ICT is by not being afraid of trying and exploring it within a classroom setting. As I said I am very apprehensive, however need to find new technology exciting instead of daunting and frustrating. Using this blog is enough out of my comfort zone and I am already benefiting my CIT skills.

My name is Megan Howard and am living in Rockhampton studying Primary Education, majoring in HPE. I am your normal broke, stressed and tired uni student with a passion for education. I work for Queensland Oztag delivering school clinics and programs to students all across our region. I am excited and looking forward to this semester and extending my knowledge and understandings of ICT. I am feeling quite anxious at this first initial stage however am sure things will settle soon.